ABUSES of the 999 service are leading to delays in attending genuine emergencies, ambulance bosses say.

Some staff are even quitting because of the stress, according to West Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust chiefs.

They say that not every alert they receive requires a "blue light' and inappropriate calls are putting patients at risk and the service and staff under intense pressure.

Bob Seaward, deputy chief executive and director of operations at the trust, said: "The problem is the ambulance service has to respond to every call that comes through the 999 system.

"Everything possible is being done to ensure the seriously ill and injured receive an emergency ambulance as quickly as possible.

"My growing concern is that the increasing demands now being placed on this service are starting to affect response times.

"This, inevitably, is resulting in ambulance delays at some incidents."

The service is currently achieving the national standard and reaching just over three-quarters of all calls in the target time of eight minutes.

But high levels of demand and extended hospital turnaround times are taking their toll.

Mr Seaward said: "The pressures staff are under is starting to have an effect. We are starting to lose highly trained and skilled professionals from road staff and those working in the control centre.

"And while recruitment is actively taking place, it takes time to train people and for them to gain experience."

He said the service was already dealing with calls at winter pressure levels, at about 1,000 calls a day - an increase of 7.5 per cent on last year - and when the winter actually arrives, the demand is expected to get worse.

People are urged to think before they phone 999 and if the situation is not life-threatening, to phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47, or attend the Walk-In Centre at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital.